by Ben Mutzabaugh, USA TODAY

by Ben Mutzabaugh, USA TODAY

Cathay Pacific will make Boston its sixth U.S. destination, saying it will launch nonstop service to Hong Kong in May. The airline will fly four round-trip flights each week on Boeing 777-300ER jets.

The route would become the first-ever regularly scheduled nonstop passenger service between New England and Hong Kong.

"The importance of the only nonstop Boston-Hong Kong service goes beyond just linking Boston with this key Asian business and tourism World City," Tom Owen, Cathay Pacific's SVP - Americas, says in a statement announcing the new route.

"We are also opening up the greater New England region to connect with numerous Asian cities, including over 22 destinations in mainland China, as well as key economic and tourism hubs throughout Southeast Asia, such as Singapore, Jakarta, Kuala Lumpur, Bangkok, Bali, and Hanoi," Owen adds. "This new service means that flying times from Boston will now be significantly reduced to this region."

The airline tells Today in the Sky that the service will launch May 3, amending its initial announcement that the service would launch May 1.

Cathay Pacific's arrival to Boston also continues a remarkable run of success for Boston Logan, which has landed several high-profile international routes in recent years.

Boston officials also were quick to point out Cathay Pacific's highly regarded service, which won the carrier the "World's Best Airline" title in the 2014 Skytrax awards.

"When the service most recently named the World's Best Airline said they wanted to make Boston a nonstop destination, it told us we were doing something right," Massport CEO Tom Glynn says in a statement. "This announcement recognizes the flourishing business opportunities that exist throughout New England. And with now 40 nonstop international destinations, Boston is an even more important player in the global economy."

For Cathay Pacific, Boston becomes its sixth U.S. destination and eight in North America. It's other North American destinations are Chicago O'Hare, Los Angeles, New York JFK, Newark Liberty, San Francisco, Toronto and Vancouver.